Reflex focusing hood with cooperating built-in direct-vision view finder



1942- L. D. NADEL 2,293,427

REFLEX FOCUSING HOOD WITH COOPERATING BUILT-IN DIRECT-VISION VIEW FINDERFiled Nov. 7, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Z 011C213 2% %z'sATTORNEYS.

Aug; 18, 1942. L. D. NADEL 3, 27

REFLEX FOCUSING HOOD WITH COOPERATING BUILT-IN DIRECT-VISION VIEW FINDERFiled Nov. 7, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO lam-82225 65 M 77M aa 88 a533 "218 ATTORNEYS.

L. o. NADEL. 2, 93,427

VISION VIEW FINDER Aug. 18, 1942.

REFLEX FOCUSING HOOD WITH COOPERATING BUILT-IN DIRECT- Filed Nov. 7.1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3- %;g ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 18, 1942. 1 NADEL 2,293,427

REFLEX FOCUSING HOOD WITH COOPERATING BUILT-IN DIRECT -VISION VIEWFINDER Filed Nov. 7, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. 2182 kwakjmw zlsATTORNEYS Aug. 1942. 1.. D. NADEL 2293;427

REFLEX FOCUSING HOOD WITH COOPERATING BUILT-IN DIRECT-VISION VIEW FINDERFiledvNov. 7, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 69 av 1 F 4' F 8 5 "F 6 5 T I im 1 u4--- 80 45: ?4

wig gwa/ INVENTOR. lauds $.MZ a: m4; LEW I its ATTORNEYS Aug. 18, 1942.L. D. NADEL.

REFLEX FOCUSING HOOD WITH COOPERATING BUILT-IN DIRECT-VISION VIEW FINDERFiled Nov. 7, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 R. ZI%Z BY gz amww QM low 4-1,};ATTORNEYJ.

18, 1942. NADEL 2,293,427

REFLEX FOCUSING B001) WITH COOPERATING BUILT-IN DIRECT-VISION VIEWFINDER Filed Nov. 7, 1940 7 sheets-sheet 7 DATA INVENTOR. loads 17- Mela; M W

Aw ATTORNEYJ.

Patented Aug. 18, 1942 REFLEX FOCUSING HOOD WITH COOPERAT- ING BUILT-INDIRECT-VISION FINDER VIEW Louis D. Nadel, Rochester, N. Y., aaaignor toThe l'olmer Graflex Corporation, Rochester, N. Y.,

a corporation of Delaware Application November 7, 1940, Serial No.364,880

25 Claim. (Cl. as-sz) This invention relates to photographic camera Fig.14 is a vertical section on the line il-il focusing hoods each having acooperating, builtof Fig. 18; in. direct-vision view finder for use whenusing Fig. 15 is a vertical section on the line ll--l! reflex focusing.of Fig. 13;

In order that the principle of the invention may Fig. 16 is a verticalsection on the line ll-ll be readily understood, I have disclosed asingle of Fig. 15;

embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is atop plan view of a reflex camera showing the focusing hood folded andthe focusing hood cover in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a partial rear elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the focusing hood coveropened to form a directvision view finder, the hood being held in foldedposition:

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the camera with the focusing hoodcollapsed and the entire cover in closed position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the focusing hoodextended for shading the ground glass focusing screen for reflexfocusing;

Fig. 6 is a partial end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 4 butwith both the cover parts erected to form a direct-vision view finder;

Fig. 'l is a plan view of a mask for use in the direct-vision viewfinder when a large opening is used corresponding to the field of anormal focal length lens;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a mask for use in the direct-vision viewfinder, but having an opening corresponding to the field of view of alonger focal length lens;

Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section through the camera showing upona large scale the structure of the focusing hood, the focusing hoodcover and the mounting of the magnifier with respect to the ground glassand the reflecting mirror;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged partial vertical section of Fig. 9, but showingthe magnifier in folded position;

Fig. 11 is a partial vertical section similar to Fig. 9, but showing thehood and camera cover in closed position, the mirror being in the upposition corresponding to the position it occupies when a picture isbeing made;

Fig. 12 is a partial vertical section similar to Fig. 9, but showing thefocusing hood in closed position and with the parts of the camera coverin position for use as a direct-vision view finder;

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the camera, but partially in horizontalsection on line Il-ll of Fig. 12;

I'll. 1'1 is a vertical section on the line ll-ll of Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary detail in vertical section showing in part thecamera hood cover fitted over the camera case;

Fig. 19 is a rear elevation partially in v rtical section showing thefocusing hood in extended position and the magnifier in folded position;and

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary detail of the focusing hood showing the holderfor a data card.

There have been numerous types of folding hoods developed through anumber of years for small reflex cameras, but all of them have hadcertain inherent defects that are overcome by my invention whichprovides a focusing hood giving adequate shade when using the groundglass for focusing, and which is of more than usual height and yet canbe folded compactly under a retaining cover that can quickly beconverted into a direct-vision view finder.

My invention further provides a magnifier built into the hood in suchway that it can be extended into the proper position for viewing theimage on the ground glass when reflex: focusing is used and can bereadily folded out of the line of vision when so desired or when thefocusing hood is folded. The hood also has attached thereto a holder fora data card in such manner that it can be quickly removed and replaced.

The invention herein disclosed may be applied to any reflex type ofcamera. Without, however, limiting in any way the application of myinvention, I have chosen to show it applied to a reflex camera of thetype disclosed in the copending application of Edson S. Hineline, Ser.No. 313,542, filed January 12, 1940.

The selected type of camera is of the general form and structureindicated in Fig. 1 and is there shown as made up of an outer case orbox 2| carrying the usual objective lens mount 2|, shutter release 22.shutter winding knob 23, shutter setting knob 24 and exposure counterdial 2!. While said parts may be of any suitable character, they aredesirably of the structure and arrangement fully disclosed in saidapplication.

concerned therewith, it is not necessary to refer to them in detail.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 6 as disclosing the general structure ofthe hood cover portions and the hood itself, the main or outer hoodcover member is indicated at 26, and with its associated parts ormembers (to be described) it is so constructed as to serve thedualpurpose of holding the focusing hood in collapsed position and also ofacting as a direct-vision view finder which, so far as I- am aware, iswholly new in the art, irrespective of the particular structureemployed, which is shown as a selected embodiment of my genericinvention.

The main or outer member 26 of the hood cover assembly is shown inclosed position in Figs. 1 and 2 and in open position in Fig. 3 with anassociated part or intermediate cover member 21 thereof, erected to forma direct-vision view finder, as will be described in detail at asubsequent point.

As shown in Figs. 3, 12, 16, 17, etc., the said hood cover member 26 isprovided with shoulder rivets 29 to engage either mask 29 or 29a bestshown in Figs. 7 and 8, and which are so constructed as to be quicklyinterchangeable. The said cover member 21 is provided-as shown in Figs.3 and 6 with a preferably square opening 36 through which the image isviewed.

The focusing hood itself is indicated generally .at 9B and is shown inits erect position in Fig. 5

and in other figures, but in its folded or collapsed condition in Figs.2, i and 11. Also in Fig. 6 the focusing hood is in a collapsedcondition and both the hood cover member 26 and the inter.- mediate orco-acting cover member 21 are in erected or vertical position. Thebroken lines 92, 32 in Fig. 6 indicate the angle of view through thedirect-vision finder when the mask 29 of Fig. '7 is in place. Both masks29, 2941 are provided with notches 33, 39 for engaging the shoulderrivets 26, 26, as clearly shown in Fig. ,3. Said masks are respectivelyprovided with central rectangular openings 9d, 9811 respectivelycorresponding in area to the angle of view of the particular objectivelens to be used in making the photograph.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 9, 10 and 19, wherein the focusinghood Si is shown in erected position, it is noted that while theinvention is not limited to such a structure of hood, the said hood isshown as of a construction generally similar to that disclosed andclaimed in the patent to Petit and Hineline No. 1,980,546, datedNovember 13, 1934, As herein shown th said hood is so made as to bereadily foldable, being of or containing suitable flexible material. Itis held in erected position by springs 99, 35 bent into frames ofgeneral rectangular shape, as best appears from Fig. 9. The said hood isprovided at its lower end with a preferably sheet metal frame 36 and thesprings 35, 35 are further held by the bent-over bosses 91, 91 of thesaid frame 36, having their ends anchored in the said hood frame. I

Attached to the said hood 98 is a magnifier 38 pivotally mounted in itsframe 39 by clamping members dd, 56. The said frame 99 is provided witha hinge end it and also attached to the said hood is a hinge plate 42.The said plate frame 39 is secured to the hinge plate 42 by means of ahinge pin 59. Also attached to the hinge plate 42 is a spring platemember 45 riding in an opening 45 of the magnifier supporting frame 39.The function of the spring plate member M is to hold the magnifier andits supporting frame in a horizontal or transverse position when. themagnifier is being used to view the image on the ground glass 46 ofusual character.

The opposite end of the magnifier supporting frame 39 is provided withan outwardly extending portion 41 protruding through the back of thefocusing hood 3i and through an opening in the plate 42, so that thesaid magnifier 38 can be placed in functioning position from the outsideof the said hood. The said plate 42 is provided with parallel hookformations 48, 48, best shown in Fig. 19, but shown in section in Figs.9 and 10, for the purpose of extending through the side wall of the hood3! to hold the plate 42 securely thereagainst. The said hood 31 isprovided with a hole 49 through which the hinge, made up of the parts39, H, 32, 46 and 47, is permitted to pass.

As best shown in Figs. 9, 11, 12, 15, and 19, the camera case 29 isprovided with an opening for receiving a hood-supporting frame 59desirably made as a sheet metal box havingan upwardly extending hingemember 5! and latch member or spring end -52 at opposite walls of thecamera case, as best appears in Figs. 9 and 12. Riveted to the hoodsupporting frame is a series of studs 53, 53 for supporting the saidground glass 46. The camera wall 54 of the case 26 is provided with asuitable hole for receiving a hinge pin 55 which itself supports thehinge structure 56 of the mirror frame 51 having attached thereto theusual reflecting mirror .56. These parts just described may besubstantially as shown in the said Hineline application Ser. No.313,542, but my invention is in no sense limited thereto.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 9 and 13 to 18, the hood covermember 26 is desirably of sheet metal and is of a box-like formation,the lower end thereof being provided with a hinge formation 59, bestshown in Fig. 15 and being held to the hood supporting frame 50 by meansof hinge pin 66, shown also in Fig. 16. The inner cover 61 is desirablymade as a fiat piece of metal having a lower hinge formation 62, 82,shown in Fig. 15, and also engaged by the hinge Pin 69. On the oppositeend of the inner cover 6| is a second hinge formation 69, 69 (best shownin Fig. 13) for the purpose of supporting the intermediate cover member27, when in its erected position, shown in Fig. 12. The said inner cover6! is also provided with latehing means 66, the function whereof issubsequently disclosed herein.

Lying between the focusing hood cover member 26 and the inner cover 65is the intermediate cover member 21, previously referred to and whichhas a hinge formation 65, 65, and is hinged to the innercover 61 byhinge pin 66, as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 12. As shown inFig. 15, the outer or hood cover member 26 is caused to be held in theerected position there shown and also shown in Fig. 12 and elsewhere, bymeans of a coiled spring 6! having an end finger 61a resting against theinner wall of the outer or hood cover member 26. The spring 6? isprovided with a finger 68 at its opposite end, which rests against theinner wall of the focusing hood supporting frame 56 and which causes thesaid cover member 26 to be swung or rotated in contra-clockwisedirection, viewing Fig. 9. A second spring 69, best shown in Figs. 15and 16, is also carried by the hinge pin and has at one end a finger i6resting against the said inner cover SI. and

at its opposite end it has an oppositely extending finger ll restingflatwise against the inner wall of the focusing hood supporting frame I.The said spring ll causes the inner cover ii to be moved in acontraclockwise direction viewing Fig. 9, thus holding the entire coverassembly in an erect position when released from folded condition in thecamera case in the manner about tobe described. In Fig. 11, the hood iiis shown folded down over the cover or cover members ll, 21 and 28, ofwhich the latter is held in closed position by an extruded notch-likeformation I! engas s the retaining spring end I2,

thus holding said cover member 26 in closed 90'.

sition. A slight upward pressure on the cover member I. applied at theright hand edge thereof, viewing Fig. 11, disengages the extrudedformation II from the spring end 52, thus allowing the cover assembly,made up of the covers or cover members 2', 21 and II, to swing upwardlyinstantly automatically to the position shown in Fig. 9, allowing thehood II to be erected under the influence of the springs 35, 35. Thecamera is then in a condition to be used when focusing in accordancewith the reflex principle (1. e. on the ground glass it) 'When it isdesired not to use the focusin hood, said hood 3| is folded down, asshown in Fig. 12, andthe inner cover 6| is swung downward in a clockwisedirection, compacting said hood 8!, and at the same time theintermediate cover member 21, which is hinged on the right hand edge oftheinner cover I, viewing Fig. 12, is held in its'said erect position bythe latching means it engaging the rim "of the hood supporting frame N,as indicated in Fig. 12.

' The said hood II is thus held compressed under the inner cover if andthe intermediate cover member 21 becomes, as is evident from Fig. 12,the co-acting member of a direct view finder,

the sighting taking place through the opening- 30 thereof and theopening 34 of the mask 2! which, being carried by the outer cover member26, is also in the erected position shown at the left in Fig. 12. ,3

In order to closet-he camera, and referring particularly to Fig. 12, itis merely necessary to press down on the intermediate cover member 21,moving it in a contraclockwise directlon,'viewing that flgure, farenough to disengage its hook N from the rim l3 and continuing to turnthe said intermediate cover member 21 until it overlies the inner coveri I The outer cover member 2! which is at this time stillerect, as shownat the left in with such flanges II, II extending parallel to the axisof the objective lens of the camera, for the support of the hoodsupporting frame I and with a third flanged-over member II, best shownin Fig. 9, extending at right angles with respect to the center axis ofthe objective lens. Extending from the flange II and the rim 13 is aU-shaped arm 11 forming the body portion of the spring end If. Theground glass ll, which is supported onthestudsllJtaaaireadydeacribedisheldin box-like formation having itsupper or horizontal part cut away to provide an opening for viewing saidground glass 40.

The hood frame 88 overlies the ground glass retaining frame 18, and itis held in position by means of strips 19, 19, shown in Figs. 13 and 14,as engaging the hood frame 36, the said strips having turned-down ends80. 80, shown in Fig. 19 as engaging the upper face of the hood frameIi, being secured to the camera case 28 by means of screws 8|, ll, shownin Fig. 13, as passing also through holes in the flanges 15, ll of thehood supporting frame in, being threaded into the camera case 20. Thus,I have provided means for quickly removing the hood assembly 31 from thehood supporting frame II so as to permit access to the ground glass 4!for cleaning, replacement or other purposes. The described structurealso permits considerable variation in the thickness of the groundglass, this being a very important requirement with respect toeconomical manufacture.

Referring now to Figs. 19 and 20, there is attached to the hood 3| ametal plate 82 having bent-in edge formations 83, 83 on either side, andbent-up formations ll, 84 on the lower edge. The purpose of theseformations is to permit the insertion of a data card, such as shown at82c on which may be recorded data at the time of making exposures. Thesaid plate 82 is secured to the hood 3| by flngers 85, 85 thereofpassing through 'a wall of the hood Ii and then clenched overthereagainst. The said plate I2 is shown as having an extension 88serving as a buffer plate to prevent the hood 3| from being worn throughor otherwise disfigured by the magnifier lens operating member 41 whenthe hood 3| is in a folded condition.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that the camera isshown in Figs. 1 and 11 in its normal folded condition. If it is desiredto use a direct-vision view finder, the focusing hood cover member 26 isreleased by upward pressure on the extruded boss 12 of Fig. 11, asalready described. The hood cover member 26 then springs automaticallyinto the position shown in Figs. 3. 5 and 9, and the hood '31 is alsoautomatically erected as described. It is now necessary to fold the hood3! down to permit the use of the direct-vision view finder. This isaccomplished by a slight pressure on the sides of the hood, the operatorat the same time pushing downward on the top of the hood. The structureis such that it will readily fold into a compact mass of smallestpossible volume, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. The inner cover SI and theintermediate cover member 21 are then together swung in a clockwisedirection, and after the inner cover H has reached the horizontalposition shown in Fig. 12, the intermediate cover 21 is then swung onits hinge formations I, 68 at the edge of the now horizontal cover lluntil said cover member 21 rises to a vertical position, as shown inFig. 12, and the said intermediate cover member 21 at its lower end,viewing Fig. 12. engages by its hook N the rim II of the hood supportingframe II.

In order to close the camera after an exposure has been made, it isnecessary merely to push the intermediate cover member 21 in an inwardposition by a frame ",shown in Fig. 19 as of a 1| end I2.

If the camera is to be used as a reflex camera without employing thedirect-vision view finder, when the cover member 25 has been releasedand is allowed to assume the position shown in Fig. 9, the hood 3iinstantly automatically erects itself and assumes its position for use.Ihe magnifier 38, however, will at such time be in the foldeddownposition shown in Fig. 10. It is moved to the working or horizontalposition, shown in Fig. 9, by downward pressure on its handle di. Whenclosing the camera the procedure is that already described, but firstthe magnifier 38 must be returned to the position shown in Fig. 10.

My invention provides in a reflex camera having a focusing hood, adirect-vision view finder which, in the described embodiment of theinvention, is composed of three parts, two of which are, when erected,the two elements of the said view finder, and the third of which holdsthe focusing hood in collapsed position and also carrles one of the saidelements of the view flnder when functioning as such.

My invention comprehends a camera view finding system combining all thefeatures of a direct-vision finder and a reflex finder without in anyway increasing the size of the camera as an entity. At the same timethere is by my invention provided a self-erecting focusing hood that issufliciently high to shield properly the ground glass from extraneouslight during the act of focusing. The construction of the various partsis notwithstanding simple, and the camera finder can be manufactured atvery low cost.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of the invention, itis to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they areused in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes oflimitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. A reflex photographic camera having a collapsible unitary focusinghood co'mplemly encircling, when erected, the .lighteshaft above theground glass of the cover, and foldable as a unit into collapsedcondition parallel with and above said ground glass, and a cover forsaid hood constituting a structure that is distinct from said hood anditself hingedly attached to the camera, said cover constituting also adirect-vision view finder when opened and for that purpose having twoconnected members, each having a visionflnding opening therein, bothsaid members being foldable down onto the unitary collapsed hood andoperable into upstanding, spaced, parallel relation.

2. A reflex photographic camera having a unitary focusing hoodcompletely encircling, when erected, the light-shaft above the groundglass of the camera and foldable as a unit into collapsed conditionparallel with said ground glass, said camera having a direct-vision viewfinder attached to the camera and distinct from said hood and adapted tobe used alternatively with said hood, said view finder having twoconnected members, each having a vision-finding opening therein, bothsaid members being foldable down onto the unitary collapsed hood andopenable into upstanding, spaced, parallel relation, and constituting inits non-functioning position as to both of said connected members acover for the collapsed focusing hood.

3.-A reflex photographic camera having a unitary collapsible hoodcompletely encircling, when erected, the light-shaft above the groundglass of the camera and foldable as a unit into aseaear collapsedcondition parallel with said ground glass, said camera also having adirect-vision view finder distinct from said hood and having twoconnected members, each having a visionflnding opening therein, bothsaid members being foldable down onto the unitary collapsed hood andopenable into upstanding, spaced, parallel relation, with means wherebyeither of said devices can be moved into functioning position collapsedcondition.

a. A reflex photographic camera having a focusing hood completelyencircling, when erected, the light-shaft above the ground glass of thecamera, and foldable into collapsed condition parallel with and abovesaid ground glass, and a cover for said hood constituting a structurethat is distinct from said hood, and itself constituting also adirect-vision view finder, said cover including one member serving whenerected as one element of a direct-vision view finder and having anothermember to serve as the other element of said view finder, said othermember being composed of two parts hinged together, one of said parts ofsaid other member being constructed to lie fiat over the collapsed hoodand the other of said parts constructed to be erected from an edgethereof and thereby function as a part of the view finder.

5. A reflex photographic cmera having a locusing hood completelyencircling, when erected, the light-shaft above the ground glass of thecamera, and foldable into collapsed condition parallel with and abovesaid ground glass, and a cover for said hood constituting a structurethat is distinct from said hood, and itself constituting also adirect-vision view finder, said cover including one member serving whenerected as one element of a direct-vision view finder and having anothermember to serve as the other element of said view finder, said othermember being composed of two parts movably connected together, and bothof said members being respectively hingedly mounted upon said cameraadjacent to the hood so as to be folded down thereonto when the hood iscollapsed.

6'. A reflex photographic camera having a unitary focusing hoodcompletely encircling, when erected, the light-shaft above the groundglass of the camera, and foldable into collapsed condi-.

tion parallel with and above said ground glass, and a cover for saidhood constituting a structure that is distinct from said hood, anditself constituting also a direct-vision view finder, said coverincluding one member distinct from the hood and serving when erected asone element of a direct-vision view finder and having another memberalso distinct from the hood and serving as the other element of saidview finder, said cover being pivotally mounted upon the camera casingadjacent one side of the light-shaft enclosing wall of the hood so as tobe folded down as a cover onto the said hood when collapsed.

7. A reflex photographic camera having a 0- cusing hood completelyencircling, when erected, the light-shaft above the ground glass of thecamera, and foldable into collapsed condition parallel with and abovesaid ground glass, and a cover for said hood constituting a structurethat is distinct from said hood. and itself constituting also adirect-vision view finder, said cover including one member serving whenerected as one element of a direct-vision view finder and having anothermember to serve as the other element of said view finder, said coverbeing pivotally mounted upon the camera. casing adjacent one side of thelight-shaft enclosing wall of the hood so as to be folded down as acover onto the said hood when collapsed, said first member constitutingthe outer part of the cover and the other member comprising two partshinged together, one of said two parts of said other member being hingedwith the outer cover member and-adapted when folded down onto thecollapsed hood to constitute a cover therefor and the other of said twoparts of said other member being adapted to be erected from an edge ofthe said cover to serve as one element of the view finder.

8. A photographic camera of the reflex type having a unitary collapsiblefocusing hood adapted when erected entirely to surround the light shaftabove the ground glass, a supporting frame 50 for the hood, the case ofsaid camera having an opening for receiving said supporting frame, thelatter being a sheet metal box-like structure provided with a hingemember at one side and a latch member at the opposite side, and a coverfor the hood structurally wholly distinct therefrom and which ispivotally received upon said hinge member and adapted when superimposedover the unitary collapsed hood to en-' gage with the said latch member.

9. A photographic camera of the reflex type having a unitary collapsiblefocusing hood adapted when erected entirely to surround the light shaftabove the ground glass, a supporting frame 50 for the hood, the case ofsaid camera having an opening for receiving said supporting frame, saidframe having an upstanding hinge member at one side thereof and a latchmember I2 at the opposite side, and a cover for the collapsed hoodstructurally wholly distinct therefrom and pivoted upon the hinge member5! and having at an opposite edge a formation I2 to engage the latchmember 52 so as to be held in cover-functioning position.

10. A photographic camera of the reflex type having a collapsiblefocusing hood, a supporting frame SI for the hood, the case of saidcamera having an opening for receiving said supporting frame, the saidframe being structurally distinct from said camera case and havingformations to support the ground glass, whereby the said frame with saidground glass may be removed as a unit from the camera case.

11. A photographic camera of the reflex type having a unitarycollapsible focusing hood adapted when erected entirely to surround thelight shaft above the ground glass, at supporting frame 50 forthe hood,the case of said camera having an opening for receiving said supportingframe, said frame at one side having a hinge member SI and at theopposite side having a spring latch member 52 and a cover for thecollapsed hood structurally distinct from said hood and pivotallymounted upon said hinge member II and at its opposite edge having anextruded formation 12 to engage the spring latch member 52 and therebyhold the cover in closed position.

12. A photographic camera of the reflex type having a unitarycollapsible focusing hood adapted when erected entirely to surround thelight shaft above the ground glass, a supporting frame 80 for the hood,the case of said camera having an opening for receiving said supportingframe, said frame being structurally distinct from the camera case anditself at one side having a hinge member 5| and at the opposite sidehaving a spring latch member 52 and a cover for the collapsed hoodstructurally distinct from said hood and pivotally mounted upon saidhinge member 5| and at its opposite edge having an extruded formation 72to engage the spring latch member 52 and thereby hold the cover inclosed position, said cover being disengageable from the said springmember by pressure upon the cover adja cent said extruded formation.

13. A photographic camera of the reflex type having a unitarycollapsible focusing hood adapted when erected entirely to surround thelight shaft above the ground glass, a supporting frame 50 for the hood,the case of said camera having an opening for receiving said supportingframe, said frame being structurally distinct from the camera case anditself at one side having a hinge member 51 and at the opposite sidehaving a spring latch member 52 and a cover for the collapsed hoodstructurally distinct from said hood and pivotally mounted upon saidhinge member 5i and at its opposite edge having an extruded formation I2to engage the spring latch member 52 and thereby hold the cover inclosed position, said cover being disengageable from the said springmember by pressure upon the cover adjacent said extruded formation, thesaid hood having spring members normally tending to erect the hood uponrelease of said cover at the said extruded formation.

14. A photographic camera of the reflex type having a collapsiblefocusing hood complete in itself, a supporting frame 50 for the hood,the case of said camera having an opening for receiving said supportingframe, a hinge member 5! at one side of said frame, a latch member atthe other side of said frame and a cover for the collapsed hood butdistinct therefrom mounted upon said hinge member 5!, said coverconsisting of three parts, the outer one and the innermost one of whichare directly pivoted upon said hinge member, and the intermediate one ofwhich is pivotally mounted upon an opposite edge of said innermost part,so that when the said innermost part occupies a position overlying thecollapsed hood, the intermediate part may be erected, said outer partand said intermediate part constituting the co-acting elements of adirect-vision View finder.

15. A reflex camera having a collapsible hood, an inner wall whereof hasa plate secured thereto, said plate having bent formations penetratingthe wall of the hood to secure the plate in place, the said plate havingalso formations extending from edge portions thereof to receive andsupport a data card.

16. A reflex photographic camera having a unitary collapsible focusinghood completely encircling, when erected, the light-shaft above theground glass of the camera and foldable as a unit into collapsedcondition parallel with and above said ground glass, and a cover for thecollapsed hood hingedly mounted upon a wall of the camera andstructurally distinct from said focusing hood, said cover having twoparts constituting the elements of a direct-vision view finder, and alsoa part which overlies the collapsed hood when the other parts of saidcover are erected in view-finder functioning position, said parts of theview finder being quickly erectable into spaced view finder functioningposition when the hood is in collapsed position between said parts.

17. A. structure according to are 4, but in which both said members ofsaid cover are respectively directly ed to the camera.

18. A structure according to claim 6, but in which both said members ofsaid cover are re= spectively directly hinged to the camera at the sameside or said focusing head.

it. A structure according to claim 4, but in which both said members ofsaid cover are re= spectively directly hinged to the camera, the otherpart of said other member of the cover, when erected, being therebystationed at the opposite side of the collapsed hood from said firstmentioned member of said cover.

20. A structure according to claim 4, but in which both said members ofsaid cover are respectively directly hinged to the camera, the said twoparts oi said other member of said cover being hinged together at theedge of the first of said parts most remote from and opposite to theedge thereof that is hinged to the camera.

21. A camera structure according to claim 14,

but in which the said supporting frame BE) is a sheet metal, open,substantially rectangular frame structurally distinct from but attachedto the camera case, and having the said hinge and the said latch memberupstanding from said sup porting frame and integral therewith.

22. A camera structure according to claim 14, but in which the saidsupporting frame 50 is a sheet metal, open, substantially rectangularframe structurally distinct from but attached to the camera case bymeans or opposite, bent-over edge flanges provided with said supportingframe,

arcade? and securing means extending through said flanges into thesubstance of the camera case and having the said hinge member and thesaid latch member upstanding from said supporting frame and integraltherewith.

23. A structure according to claim 12, but in which the said hingemember of the supporting frame also has pivotally mounted thereon aninner cover member 60 adapted to be folded down ilativise on thecollapsed focusing hood.

2%. A structure according to claim 12, but in which the said hingemember of the supporting frame also has pivotally mounted thereon an inner cover member 6i adapted to be folded down fiatwise on the collapsedfocusing hood, and an intermediate cover member 22? having an opening toserve as a view finder and hinged to the edge of the inner cover memberiii that is opposite to the edge thereof which is hinged to thesupporting frame.

25. A structure according to claim 12, but in which the said hingemember of the supporting frame also has pivotally mounted thereon aninner cover member 66 adapted to be folded down flatwise on thecollapsed focusing hood, and an intermediate cover member 2? having anopen= ina to serve as a view finder and hinged to the edge of the innercover member (30 that is opposite to the edge thereof which is hinged tothe supporting frame, said intermediate cover mem her 27 having aportion which, when said cover member 2'? is erected, engages and issupported by the spring latch member 52?.

L0 D. WADE.

